Requirements

Stand-alone /
run-time release / no Matlab license required

When installing a 'stand-alone' release of iFit, you only
need to install the Matlab Compiler Runtime (free), available
below. There is NO other dependency. The package contains
everything required. The stand-alone package is distributed for Linux, Windows and Mac OSX systems. See below to
download the required stand-alone
package.

The stand-alone version provides full
iFit functionality at no cost. You can execute any
script (list of commands) using iFit and Matlab functions.
However, you can not define new functions. Refer to the
'stand-alone'
release of iFitpage for more
information on the features and limitations.

Matlab - source code release

The only requirement is to have Matlab
installed. Any Matlab version from 7.4 (R2007a) will do, no need
for any additional toolbox. This is a commercial
product. Student versions can be bought for lower prices, as well
as
Academic licenses (e.g. for Universities). See below to download the required source package.

C compiler
(optional)

In principle, the pre-compiled MeX
files are shipped with the package (for e.g. looktxt), so that the
software is ready to run. However, in the event of a
re-compilation of MeX files, a C
compiler is often shipped with
Matlab (and installed automatically). The Loaders
library may use it
sporadically. This is not required for stand-alone versions. Refer
to the Changes/Bugs page in case of
troubles.

Fortran compiler (optional)

The CIF/CFL/PCR/ShelX file support is available when the cif2hkl program can be
compiled (usually this is done automatically). We supply these
executable files in the Download/binary section of the iFit web
site. We recommend to install gfortran, which
exists for all systems (for windows, get the single file
installer). Refer to the Changes/Bugs
page in case of troubles.

Python/NumPy
(optional)

iFit can be transparently used from Python/NumPy. In
principle, this is better suited for users not wanting to use
Matlab, preferring the Python language. You will need to install
Python and NumPy. We recommend the Python(x,y) for
Windows, or Enthought
Canopy for all systems. Refer to our PyFit
help pages.

We prefer Linux systems, such as Ubuntu,
when handling large data sets, and performing McStas optimizations, so that we
fully use multi-core systems (e.g. though threads and MPI). You may
use our ILL/CS
Live DVD ready-to-run system with McStas and iFit (standalone)
pre-installed.

Obtaining the
package / Download

standalone packages
for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X allow to execute iFit even
without purchasing Matlab. Select your system type and follow
the installation instructions below. Refer to the iFit standalone help for more about using
this version.

This can also be done from e.g. Synaptic (menu
Settings/repositories) and Ubuntu Software Center (menu
Edit/Software Sources) ; tab Other Software/Add... Then select
packages ifit and MCRInstaller and install them.
If you use the Debian package installers (.deb), nothing else is
required. Double click the deb packages (MCR, then iFit) and wait.
Then you can start iFit from the Dash or from menu Applications/Education/iFit.
Drag-n-drop of data files is possible on the iFit launcher, as
well as on operator icons from /usr/local/ifit/.

You can also install the packages manually by directly accessing
our Deb
repository, get the Debian packages, e.g. ifit-x.y and
MCRinstaller, then (fix the file names):

% sudo dpkg -i ifit-x.y-amd64.deb mcrinstaller-7.13.deb

If you do not have Matlab, the installer will ask you if you wish
to use iFit as a replacement, then will automatically create a
link:

% sudo ln -s /usr/local/ifit/ifit /usr/local/bin/matlab

On Other Linux systems, we recommend to install the
MCR in /opt/MATLAB
(requires administrative privileges).

chmod u+x MCRINstaller.binsudo ./MCRInstaller.bin

Prefer the /opt/MATLAB
location.
Then install the iFit stand-alone package where-ever you wish
(/usr/local/ifit is recommended). Launch ifit from there.
If you have not installed the MCR in /opt/MATLAB, you need to define the MCRROOT
environment variable to its location prior to starting iFit :

export MCRROOT=/opt/MATLAB/MATLAB_Compiler_Runtime/v713/ifit

If you do not have Matlab and wish to use iFit as a replacement,
create a link:

On MacOSX systems,
install the MCR by double-clicking the corresponding MCRInstaller.dmg. The install
location defaults to /Applications/MATLAB.
Then extract the zip archive anywhere at your choice, and launch ifit from there. You can also
place the iFit directory in /Applications
or /usr/local/ifit, and
create links, especially if you do not have Matlab and wish to use
iFit as a replacement:

NOTE: Currently, Matlab only allows
one MCR on MacOSX machines. Delete first the previous Matlab
Runtime Component by removing the folder named MATLAB/MATLAB_Component_Runtime
in the Applications
folder. Alternatively, download and launch the archive including
the MCR (when available in mac32
or mac64) which embeds
and allows to run a locally different MCR.

On Windows systems,
install the MCR by double-clicking the corresponding MCRInstaller.exe. The install
location defaults to C:\Program
Files\MATLAB. Then use the iFit installer.

To launch iFit, click on the 'ifit' icon
in the installation directory. You can also drag-n-drop files on
the iFit icon to directly import data files and plot them (Linux
and Windows systems). This also works when using the operators
short cuts included in the iFit standalone directory (under
Linux).

Installation -
source distribution

You just need to copy the iFit
directory somewhere, say in /path/to.

Extract first the iFit
archive if needed.

Just drag-drop the iFit
directory in the target location that suits you.

For our users who love challenges and command lines, this may be
achieved e.g. with

% unzip iFit.zip% cp -r iFit /path/to

Start Matlab by clicking on its icon or typing the matlab command in a terminal.

% matlab

In order to use iFit, you need to import all its methods into Matlab
each
time you start it (this may be automated from the startup.m file).

>> addpath(genpath('/path/to/iFit'))

This can also be done from the Matlab menu File/Set Path.../Add with subfolders... then enter
the iFit location, and Save. That's
all !

A list of fixed bugs and release history is recorded in the Changes page.

Windows 64 (XP, Vista, 7)

The Loaders sub library makes use of a
MeX file 'looktxt.mexw64'.
A pre-compiled version for Windows systems is shipped with the
package but this binary may
fail with some Matlab releases. In that case, it is required to install
a compatible C compiler (currently Microsoft Visual C++). The
required downloads are, in order, C++
Express then the SDK
(for Matlab >= 2010).
Older Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 [ISO]
can also be used together with the SDK for Windows 7 + NET 3.5
[amd64 ISO]).
Just
use the default installation settings, then use

An other solution, somewhat more complex to tune, is to use gcc (from e.g. MingW) and the gnumex tool. The Dev-Cpp compiler
(which includes gcc) may also be used.

Then force the recompilation of looktxt
with the procedure below.

Other systems
(Windows 32, Linux, MacOSX)

All other platforms provide
a valid C compiler

lcc for Windows 32bits (from Matlab)

gcc for Linux systems (comes with the gcc package)

gcc for MacOSX (need to install Xcode/developper tools,
including gcc)

In order to force the recompilation
of looktxt MeX, remove
the iFit/Libraries/Loaders/private/looktxt.mex*
files, and launch

>> iLoad force

from the Matlab prompt. The C compiler to use may have to be
specified with the command '>>
mex -setup'. Send me the newly compiled looktxt MeX file in
a tar.gz/zip archive, so that I update/add it to the distribution.

Refer to the related item in the Changes/Bugs page,
especially for manual compilation.

What's next ?

You may test the package integrity by issuing the command:

>> ifittest

which will test, in a few minutes, all the examples given in this
documentation and report
failures. In principle all should go right. Refer to the iFit Help in case of trouble.
You may start with the Quick Start
page
to learn what iFit can do for you.